Former Michigan State University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources interim dean Doug Buhler has been named director of MSU AgBioResearch and CANR senior associate dean for research. The new appointment was effective May 1.
Steve Pueppke, MSU AgBioResearch director for the past seven years, has been named director of CANR Global and Strategic Initiatives, a new position within the college. He will also continue in his role as MSU associate vice president for research and graduate studies.
The changes were announced April 30 by CANR Dean Fred Poston, who succeeded Buhler from the college leadership post in January. Buhler had served as interim CANR dean since January 2011. Prior to that, he served as CANR associate dean for research, director of Project GREEEN (Generating Research and Extension to Meet Economic and Environmental Needs) and MSU AgBioResearch associate director.
Buhler will be responsible for all research investments in the CANR and serve as the administrative lead of MSU AgBioResearch, a group of more than 300 researchers on campus from seven colleges. Pueppke will serve as administrative leader for CANR’s global programs.
Pueppke and Buhler will work together to ensure that domestic and international research agendas are integrated, Poston said.
“Their leadership will be essential in creating a strong, distinct identity for research in CANR, developing new partnerships at home, as well as globally, to address high-priority areas; and promote the growth in external funding across the mission area,” Poston said.
Buhler, came to MSU in 2000, and served five years as chair of the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences. Prior to joining MSU, he served on the faculty in the University of Wisconsin’s Department of Agronomy and as a research scientist the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service.